THE DUKE IS BACK

Sitting last night on the rooftop of Randolph Duke's new house was surreal. I felt I had died and gone to Nirvana. So I meditated. As I looked out over Los Angeles, a coal fire burning in the outdoor fireplace, I didn’t want to leave L.A. What New York?! "Just blissing out," I told one fashion journalist who walked by and asked what the hell I was doing.

Soon I wanted to get back to where most of the guests had gathered to celebrate Duke’s emotional "comeback" collection. I sipped champagne and wanted to toast some spectacular looks like the black gown with pearl straps and the amazing peek-a-boo sequin skirt.



But I had one problem: getting downstairs to the living room was going to be a challenge with my Moet Chandon in my hand and high heels on my feet. Two ladies standing next to me in high heels eyed the stairs giggling. This was no laughing matter. I told them not to do it, "Don't go down," I said. Highly polished black wood, there are no banisters on the stairs. One slip and you could go tumbling: down the stairs, onto the hard floor of the living room below, past the turquoise blue pool, and down the steep hill. And there would be nothing, nothing to break your fall.

So we went down the garden stairs at the back.

Coming off the energy of Randolph's show, guests talked and smiled and were awfully friendly. Extra, Access, ABC – a lot of TV at the house or the show. 74 looks--no one does so many outfits in shows anymore. Reprising some of his greatest hits like bondage, shirred gowns that make the butt look bigger and plunge-back gowns, he was flushed, smiling and teary-eyed all night.

MODEL BEHAVIOR

The discussion about the disgusting lack of black models has reached L.A.
Randolph noted that he used three black models. I was happy to see he also had someone who looked Latina and an Asian. Randolph has always had a diverse line up.

Still, where are the black models?



And in L.A., you might also ask, where are the good models...? Randy's trick to make them look runway ready - "slick back their hair.  Give them sultry eyes, and teach them how to walk like the New York/Europe girls.” Any designer worth his hip swivel can in a pinch teach a model how to strut. And so backstage before the show - Randolph put them through their paces.

 
Designer Randolph Duke

You just don't have a melt down 40 minutes before show time as one of the models did. Randolph, understandably upset, called for a replacement -immediately! The woman pulled herself together, apologized for having a heart as well as a killer body, and Randolph calmed down.



But it was rough going. L.A. is no New York.

NICKY CHICK

Bi-coastal fashion maven Nicky Hilton SHOWED another collection within a month of introducing Nicholai to editors and retailers in New York. Less expensive than Nicholai, Chick was surprisingly good. Not a line one needed to see on a runway, but when you're a potential international brand, who can blame the other Hilton sister for maximizing the press interest in her.

 
Designer Nicky Hilton

Now everyone gets to see her sweet cotton dresses and sportswear. The designer/socialite wore a blue and white Chick dress for her bow. Whimsical apple prints, shoe prints on white cotton, a cute white spring coat and jacket with big buttons. All fun, young and summery.



Celebrities have been out of sight so far. I expected to see a fair share at Nicky's and Randolph's but I guess they are actually working - acting or singing - instead of going to fashion shows.